Hiyas dicky, I'm looking forward to it the meet - got loads of questions like any newbie so you may have to be patient with me tho!
I've been continuing with the refurb today. The replacement factory spec cans had come in the week and these were inspected last night. Some scratching from being stored but a good polish and they'll look good. Off first thing to Chester to pick up a replacement nose section along with a literally unused rear hugger. I used to live there in the late Eighties and it was a real trip down memory lane. The ladies I used to know back then. Sigh..........
Anyway, back home and sleeves rolled up for the first job. All the decals on the bike - which were hiding various stone chips and cracks - are now off and the adhesive is slowly being rubbed out. 10 sets on each side panel! A used tail piece arrived in the post which was stripped down last night for cleaning up and refitting. The original had been swan down horribly for some reason so that's another item back to original spec. Now I've got 4 rear indicators so watch out for a pair going up for grabs in the classifieds section next week. Oh, and a new front indicator also arrived. Which doesn't really fit the fairing. Not that I'm surprised. It's only a case of some minor fettling though, and if you've ever tried to get an MGB wing to fit then this is child's play by comparison.
With that job out of the way I turned my mind to a minor little task. The choke cable was worn out so Postman Pat delivered a new one this morning. Good opportunity for me to have a delve around methinks. Seat off, tank up, airbox loosened (which has no securing clips for the top section I noted) and the new cable soon goes in. Ditto the control. Nice and easy really, tad fiddly in a couple of places but nothing taxing. Bit of adjustment and it's sliding nicely with plenty of smooth resistance.
However, I was becoming more bemused by what I was seeing of the wiring. A mess is a nice way to describe it, but I held back from ripping it apart and putting it back together for the moment. Anyway, crank her over says I. Some fresh fuel in the tank and - nothing. Not even a cough. Crank a bit more. Nowt. A third go. Nope. Hit the button and churn, cough, then one almighty backfire. Turn off, battery out, leave it.
Now it fired last weekend, albeit a bit reluctantly, so I've obviously disturbed something, but I'm minded it's badly set up anyway. It needs a complete step-by-step going over on the sparks side as fuel is going round fine. One thing is for sure; at some point the beast was in the hands of a bodging gorilla, such is the mess I've already cleaned up with incorrect fixings all over the place, yards of electrical tape removed and minor wiring re-connected properly. I don't claim to be an expert mechanic but some people really shouldn't be allowed within yards of a spanner.
Ho hum. While I think about the starting problem I'll press on with the cosmetics and get the panels rubbed down tomorrow. I'm happiest with a bucket of warm water and some wet n' dry!